Machine for counting and stacking articles



R.' E. .LNORDQUIST 2,612,089

MACHINE FOR coUNTrNG AND STACKING ARTICLES 4 sneaks-sheet 1 Sept. 30, 1952 Fild'Nov. 12, 1948 "DLA agg@ E A R. E. J. NoRDQUlsT K MACHINE FOR COUNTING AND STA-CKING ARTICLES Sept. 30, 1952 4 `Sheets-Sheet, 2

Filed NOV. 12, 1948 lIJVVENYT'OR.'

RN kw U l T 14 Q Y Q w NNN Sept. 30, 1952 R. E. J. NoRDQulsT 2,612,089

MACHINE FOR CQUNTING AND STACKING ARTICLES Fild Nor. 12, 1948 4 sheets-sheet 3 gif , JNVNTOR. Y

Sept. 30, 1952 R. E. J. NoRDQulsT MACHINE FOR COUNTING AND sTAcKING ART1cLEs FiAed Nov. 12, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 /4 TTOE/VEYS Patented Sept. 30, 1952 I MACHINE FOB COUNTING AND STACKING ARTICLES y Ronald E.: J. Nordquist, Maplewood, N. J., as-

signor to American Can Company, New York, f

N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application November 12, 194s, seria1No.59,595

stacking and counting articles and has particular reference to devices for counting off a predetermined number of the articles as they are stacked and for inserting markers between the articles at the end of each count to visibly indicate and separate or divide counted groups or batches of articles. i

An object of the invention is the provision of a machine vfor stacking and counting articles wherein the articles as they are stacked are accurately counted off into batches of a predetermined number of articles and the batches divided by markers inserted into the stack during the stacking operation so as to facilitate removal of the batches separately for subsequent treatment or shipment or storage.

Another object is the provision of such a stacking and counting machine wherein the counting of the articles is effected by the articles themselves as they are added to the stack so that any articles missed by irregular feeding of the articles Vare omitted from the count with the result that a highly accurate and dependable count is obtained.

Another object is the provision of such a stacking and counting machine which is simple in construction and which embodies various novel features particularly adapted to high speed operation with a minimum maintenance factor.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring tothe drawings:

1 claims. (ci. sis-93) The present invention relates to a machine for" theinvention the drawings illustrate a machine for-stacking sheetmetal end members or covers A for cans or containers although the invention is equally well adapted to other articles. As each cover A (Fig. 6) is added to the stack it is counted. When a predetermined number of covers have been counted out to form a desired batch, a stripl B of paper or other marker or divider material is fed into place in thestack and cut offso that a portion of the strip extends beyond the stack, thus producing a marker C that visibly indicates the termination of the batch. c

The covers A are fed individually into the machine in a horizontal position from anysutable source of supply, suchv as a forming press ory a fiange curling device or other machine. As they are received, the covers are advanced in spaced andtimedl order along a horizontal runway` II (Figs. 1, 2, 6 and 7) having grooved side guides I2 which support and guide the covers. The runway II is secured to a horizontal table I4 of a frame I5 which constitutes the main frame of the vWay II and carries a plurality of spaced depressible feed dogs 2| which engage behind the covers for advancing them. Depressible stationary Vholding dogs 22 are provided in the runway II for holding an advanced cover in position dur Figure 1 isa side view of a stacking machine embodying the instant invention, with parts broken away and parts shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the machine shown in Fig. 1, with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal section taken substantially along the broken line 3--3 in Fig. 1, with parts broken away;

Figs. 4 and 5 are transverse sectional views taken substantially along the respective broken lines 4-4, 5-5 in Fig. 1, with parts broken away,

.'Fig. 5 being drawn on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section taken substantially along thebroken line 6-6 in Fig. 4, with parts broken away; and

Figs. 7 and 8 are enlarged sectional detail views taken substantially along the lines 1 1, 8 8, in Fig. 2.

As a preferred and exemplary embodiment of ends. The oppositevend of the rod is mounted the return stroke of the feed bar. I1. I g

The feed bar I1 is reciprocated through a feeding stroke (toward the right as viewed in Fig. 6) and thence through a return stroke by an upright `arm 25 (Figs. 1 and 6). The lower end of the arm 25 is mounted on a pivot shaft 26 carriedvin suitable bearings formed in the frame I5. The upper end of the arm 25 is pivotally connected by a short link 21 to a lug 28 which depends from the stroke bar I'I. The lug 28 extends down through a slot 29 formed in the table I4.

The arm 25 is rocked on its pivot shaft 26 by a connecting rod 3l. One end of the rod is connected pivotally to the arm 25 intermediate its on an eccentric stud'32 (see Fig. 5) secured in an eccentrically disposed boss 33 formed on the outer face of an eccentric disc 34. The eccentric disc 34 is keyed to a continuously rotating drive shaft 'transverse web section'39 (see Fig. 1)." ofthe frame I while the bearing 31 is formed in an upright side portion of the frame. The drive shaft 35 may be rotated in any suitable manner.

Hence as the drive shaft 35 rotates, it revolves the eccentric disc 34 and thus through the connecting rod 3| and arm 25 it reciprocates the feed bar |1 through the feeding and return strokes hereinbefore mentioned. During successive feeding strokes of the feed bar I1 a cover A is intermittently advanced along the runway and then introduced into a magazine 42which is disposed at the terminal end ofthe runway.

The magazine 42 includes a vertical tubula -ranged around the inner periphery of the magashell 43 which is secured tothe top of the :table |4 of the frame l5. 'I'his-`shell is open at both ends and extends upwardly from the table so'that Y A recesses B4 formed in the shell adjacent the bores the covers may be stacked into vit from the lower end, although the invention is equally well adapted to a mechanism in which the coversare fed onto the top of a stack instead of onto the bottom of the. stack asshovvn in theV drawings.

The upper end ofthe magazine-shellV 43 carriesa plurality of uprighty guideV rods 44 which A retain` the covers in. stacked. relation as. thestack Aini-ilds up beyond the shell.y These. rods. facilitate manual removal ofthe covers in batches as will berhereinafter mentioned. The lower endof the shell 43 lis formed withanv inletv opening; 45 vand coven guide grooves 46 and .cover supportledges 4l'iliigs. 2,?6 andv 7l forming continuations ,of the -guiderails I2 toadmit and guide, thecovers into stacking position within the shell. The .feedbar -eeds the covers into this position. When vv-hollyfwithin the magazine the. advanced cover `-is supported on the support ledges 41.

x each cover-A-is1=fed into stacking position 4within the magazine shell 43l it is counted and is `then lifted vertically within the` shell to takezits place in the stack of' covers retained inthe magazine-l Thev lifting `of* a cover will beY explained v` first. This lifting operation is effected .by a ver- -tically movable lifter pad 5| (FigsJZ, y6 and?) which is located in the lower end of the rmagazine just below the cover support ledges 41. VThe "lifter 'pad5| is carried on the upper end of .a

Y-vc`ertically-'movable stemf52. The stem extends `ldownthrough-a horizontalfguide plate 53 (see also @Figsf 3 and 5) disposed transversely of .the machine and secured at its ends to the side mem- 4"hereof the-frame I5. -1 At' its lower end, thestem 52-is-formedfwith al yoke 55 whichstraddles the -main-drive-shaft l35 between the shaft bearing 13B and the eccentric disc 34. This yoke r`and the guide plate-maintain the stem in a verticaln position. i

' The stem 52`-and the lifter pad 5| 'carried therelunare raisedand lowered by cam action in time `vviththe feeding of the covers A. For: this purwposef'the yoke 55 carries a camA roller 55 (Figs.

1;'5 and) which operates in a cam groove 51 formed in the linner face of the eccentric disc 34.

LHenceas themain drive shaft 35 rotates the `eccentricdisc 34 totreciprocate the stroke bar |1, it simultaneously actuates the lifter pad 5| through-an upward or cover stacking stroke andr "thence downward througha return stroke. This lraising and lowering of the lifter pad takes place twhilethe stroke bar i1 is moving back through Va return: stroke` after feeding` a cover A into the :magazineshell 43.. Thus, just as soon as acover LA; hasfbeen fully positioned within the magashell 43,.the,lif.terV pad 5| begins ritsupward stroke.4

`As thezlifter pad 5|` moves up throughY a cov er stacking stroke, it ensasesrandlifts the cover. from FEO zine 42. These iingers are cylindrical in form and are located. in bores 52 which extend through the side wall of the magazine shell 43. Upright pinsJS secured in the ngers operate in narrow 62 andthus prevent the iingers from turning. Thesepins also limit the inward travel of the ingers. The inner endsfof the iingers are formed iwithtaperednoses 65 to facilitate movement of a coverAi past the fingers.4 The outer ends ofthe flngersare engaged lov-flat springs 66 which are securedto ,the outer surface of the magazine `shelll.These springsmaintain thengers in `a normal Vstack'supportingpositioi'i as best shown iin Fig. 8 but yield suicientlyto allow the4 iingers to move outwardly as a rising cover.;Aen

gagesandsnaps past them.

Asa lited. cover Amoves'above .the fingers 8|, the ,flngerssnap back into placeA under thecover. The: lifter pad 5|: thenreturns to its original ,10W- ered position, Y leaving the elevated cover.; A; S11-pportedqon the stack support iingers 6|. i This ,operation is repeated: for each cover A upon recaption ofthe` cover in the magazine.` Hence :as each cover is lifted intda, position aboverthe stack support. ngers. 5| itis added to the bottom of. a. stack which; is. built upas a result of; the-repeated movements ofi the lifter pad.

. Accurate counting of the covers A as; they;are added to the ybottom of the stack` `is` eiiectcdxby acounting device E '(Figs., i, 2,A l` and 6) :which -controls :the insertion rof axmarker C into-the stack after a predetermined number of.,.co.vers have been counted as. hereinbefore mentioned. This counting device includes a. counting wheel 1|v and a count divider or count terminatingor -strip control wheel. 12 which Aare ormedintcgrally and :which rotate as a. unitary: structure `on a stud 13. The stud. is securedin. an upright bracket `14 which is disposed adjacent the cover vmagazine shell 43 and which is bolted to ari-,extension 15.03? the machine. frame l5.

The vcountingwheel 1| is rotated intermittently in a step-by-step .mannenv one step for each vcover A added to the stack by thevlifter pad 5|.

Forjthis purpose, thelouter edge or periphery of the counting wheel 1|. isv formed with a plurality vof ratchetior counting teeth 1'|which in number are equal to a multiple of the number .of covers desired ein f each batch separated `byA the lmarkers kC. Inlthevinstant case, as shown inthe drawings by way of example, two hundred covers are lincluded'zin each batch. Hence the counting wheel is provided with twohundred teeth, which .is'suiiicient to occupy the entire peripheryof the wheel. Thus the wheel rotates once for each batch of covers.

. Rotation of the counting .wheel 1|y isV eiected by each cover A as it entersthemagazine 42rand v4is lifted into place; in the stack. This-is brought about vby an uprightdetector -or counting finger 19 (see Figs. 5 and 7) which is mountedon a. pivotpinl l/carried in awbracket 82V bolted tothe outside of the magazine shell'43.v The lower end of the detector nger is formed with a lug 83 which extends through a slot 84 in the magazine shell and whichnormally projects into the magazine 42 in the path of travel of a cover A entering the magazine.

An adjusting screw 85 in the magazine shell engages the detector nger 19 and limits the inward travel of the lug 83. This screw may be adjusted to effect the desired contact of lug 83 yby a cover A. The finger is maintained in this normal position by a compression spring 88 which is interposed between the magazine shell 43 and the detector iinger adiacent the upper end of the finger.

At its upper end, the detector nger 19 is pivot-.ally connected to a link 88. The opposite end of the link is pivotally connected tota pawl 89 which is disposed adjacent the periphery of the; counting wheel 1| and which is normally disengaged from the ratchet teeth 11 thereon. Intermediate its ends, the pawl 89 is mounted on a pivot pin 98 carried in an arm 9| of a bell crank 92 freely mounted on the counting wheel stud 13.

A cooperating .arm 93 of the bell crank 92 is connected to the upper end of a vertically disposed actuating link 94. The lower end of this link is connected to a horizontal arm 95 (see also Fig. 3) secured to a rocker shaft 9B carried in bearing lugs 91 formed on the bracket 14. The rocker shaft 95 also carries an actuating arm 98 which extends toward the stem 52 of the lifter pad 5|. Adjacent the lifter pad, the arm is formed with a yoke 99 which partially surrounds the stem 52 and which is pivotally connected thereto by a pivot pin which extends through the stem 52 and through elongated slots ||J| formed in the yoke. i

Hence when a cover A enters the magazine 42 for lifting into position in the stack, it engages the lug 83 of the detector finger 19 and pushes .the lug outwardly until the cover is fully seated on its support ledges 41 in the magazine. This movement of the lug 83 rocks the detector linger 19 on its pivot pin Bland through the link 88 rocks the pawl 89 into engagement with th ratchet teeth 11 of the counting wheel 1|. l,

Thus when the lifter pad moves up through itsstacking stroke and lifts the cover A into position in the stack, it rocks the actuating arm 93' and arm 95 and through the vertical actuating link 94, it rocks the bell crank 92 in a clockwise 4direction as'viewed in Figs. 1 and 6. This movement of the bell crank moves the pawl 89 forward and since the pawl is engaged with the ratchet teeth 11 of the counting wheel 1I, the wheel rotates with the pawl. In this manner the counting wheel andthe count divider wheel 12 connected therewith are partially rotated a distance equal to one ratchet tooth 11 for every cover A added to the stack.

During this stacking operation, the cover A being stacked, rides along the inner edge of the lug 83 on the detector finger 19 and thus holds the pawl 89 engaged with the ratchet teeth 11. However, as soon as the cover reaches its position in the stack, it-rides off the lug 83 and thus releases the detector finger 19. The compression spring 86 thereupon rocks the detector nger and thus withdraws the pawl 89V from the ratchet teeth 11. Thus when the lifter pad 5| moves `down through its return stroke, the pawl is out of engagement withthe-ratchet teeth, and hence the-counting wheel 11| i and the count-divider wheel v12 remain stationary in'theirpartiallyf rotated Position.

When for any reason no cover is fed intorthe magazine '42 upon' a forward stroke of the feed bar I1, the detector linger 19 remains in its normal position since there is no cover to operate it. Hence the pawl 89 remains in its normal position out of engagement with the ratchet teeth A11', and during the following .lifting stroke of `,the lifter pad 5 I, the pawl moves forward with the lbell crank 92 but does notv rotatethe counting wheel 1| and the count dividerr wheel 12 `as explained above. These wheels remain stationary during such an idle stroke of the machine and thus the missing cover is not counted. In this manner an accurate countis effected. Y

Whenl the counting wheel 'Hand its count divider wheel 12', after` repeated partial rotations, have rotated far enough to indicate the termination of' va batch of covers, as for examplein the instant case'where the batch is terminated with the depositing of the 200th cover in the stack. a strip B of paper or other material is fed forward into the magazine through a slot therein and placed in a position betweenthe lowermost or 200th cover in the stack, and the incoming,v or 201st cover, and is cut off to provide the marker C hereinbefore mentioned. Y

The strip B is enclosed preferably in a pair oi? cooperating horizontally disposed guides .I II (Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 6) which are carried on brackets H2, H3. The bracket H2 is formed on the ma. chine frame |5 while the bracket H3 is secured to the upright bracket 14. The strip may be received from any suitable source of supply such as a reel F of strip material supported on an axle ||5 carried in a bracket IIB formed as a part of the frame extension 15.

The strip B normallyremains stationary with its inner end disposed adjacent a pair. of cutfoi blades I2 I, |22 extending transversely of the path of .travel of the strip. The blade |2| is a stationary-blade located above the, path of travel of the strip and is secured to the detector finger bracket 82. f The blade |22 is a movable blade disposed below the path of travel of the strip andis secured to a support |23 which extends out from the lifter pad 5| (see Fig. 6).A The lower blade |22 moves up with the lifter pad 5I each time the pad raises but no cutting action takes place until the strip B is fed into position between the blades. batch of covers as explained hereinbefore.

The striprB is fed into cutting position by a pair of cooperating'feed rollers |25, |252(Figs. 4 and 6) 'These rollers are disposed adjacent the path of travel of the strip and operate in an opening |21 formed in thegstrip guides I I I. The roller |25 ,isV disposed below the path of travel of the strip and is mounted on a short shaft` I 28, the ends of which are carried in bearings formed in the upright .bracket 14 andl in a cooperating `bracket |29 formed on the bracket 14. The roller is intermittently rotated in opposite directions by a gear |32 Which is keyed to the roller shaft |28. This gear meshes with a rack |33 which is secured to and is reciprocated by the feed bar I1. Opposite the gear |32, the rack is supported. on a grooved idler pulley |34 carried on a lstud |35 secured in the bracket |29. y

Through its Vconnection with the stroke barxI "i, the rack |33 rotates the lower feed roller |25 in a .counterclockwise or strip feeding direction (as Viewed in Fig; 6) during the feeding stroke of the bar. The stroke bar; normallyv rotates this roller This only takes place at the end of a l 'during' eeen-:strokefrst'injthestrip feeding die' rection (counterclockwise in Fig. 6) andthenin .,atreturn direction (clockwise inFig. 6) Awithout Lfeedingtiie strip B, the rollermerely touchingthe Ystrip:Slightly.with insuiiicient frictional grip to move-it.

fFeeding ofthe stripB is effected-at the proper time by the roller |26' which" is ya pressuref'roller and `whichY is located in theopening |2'I'A of lthe :guides III- andabove the: path of travelof Vthe `stript This .pressureroller is` rotatably mounted fonfoneend of a lever I38,..whicb intermediate its .ends-is'carried on a pivot plni39 secured inthe upright bracket .1.4. The opposite end ofthe lever `carries an indent pin |4| .whichfnormally rides: on the outer periphery of the count: divider .tvheei l2 Vasbest 'shown 0lnfFig.;` 6. Artensionspring' I 42 -having-onezend .hooked'into the lever |38 adjacent'the pressure `roller |26 vand having its oppo- 'slte end secured to the top of .the strip guides i, maintains the'indentpin .IAI in contact with the wheel.

strokeof thebar. `At this instant the bar and the feed yroller |25v arev momentarilystationary and readyto`- begin a forward or-teeding stroke.

The downward movement of the' pressure roller |26 is eiected by a notchor recess or? indent M3 -t-Figs; 1 andv 6) which is formed in the periphery of the count divlderrwheel 12. There may be `more'than--one of these indents |43 in the count divider'wheel, ldepending upon' the number of covers A tobe set off lin the-stack asa batch and 'ifn vaccordance with the number of ratchet teeth 1T disposed between the indents. Where the en- --tireperiphery of the counting wheel '1| is required to countfout one-batch of covers A, as in the Vexample raf-200 -coversrhereinmentioned, only one indent ll3-isrequlred as shown in the' drawings.

When suici'ent covers A have been added to `thestack in the; magazine 42 to complete a batch of 20D-covers, the-counting wheel 1| has'been'ro -tatedfth-rough a complete revolution, and the last `step of its rotation Vfor the 200th cover rotates the `indent |43- into register with theindent pin |4I. Thispermits the indent `pin IBI to fall into the 'indent |43 yas showen` in' Fig. l. Itis this action that lowers the pressureI roller |26 into'contact nwiththe strip B under pressure of the spring' |42.

`Hencewhen4 the stroke bar IT moves forward .andi advances the 20-1st cover-'A into the magazine 142, vitsV rack |33 rotates the feedy roller |255` ina counterclockwise'direction and thus under pressure ofthe pressure roller E26, feeds the strip B -between the open cutoff blades I2 I, 22 and into position between the 200th and the 201st covers vA linthe magazine. AAs soon as theY stroke bar I'I completes its feeding stroke, the lifter pad 5I begins its lifting stroke and `raises the-20lst cover .intoV position. at. the' bottom of the stack separatedbythe stripB.

During; this lifting operation, `.the lower cutzo blade .M22-moves. up and in cooperation -With the upper-blade 1.2.1; severe-the strip :Band leaves'tlie out oportion inplace between the 200th and: the 2D1stcovers;athus; producing the marker'C which yisiblyindicates the termination of a, batchriof 200 covers 1 and'. `the beginningY of e azrnew batch. Simultaneously with-this action,k the rotationzof the counting wheel 1I and its count divider Wheel |2.v for ,z the'V 2Olst cover, advances' the indent '|43 one.. step and thus forces the;indent pin MII-out of theiindent. -This rocks the lever |38 'and` thus returnsY or.` lifts the. pressure. roller I2 61 iinto 'its normal position. out of contact with the strip B and thus prevents feeding of the strip away' from the out off blades |2I, |22 and further permits the strip to remain stationary yduring the :following strokes of the feed bar I'l and the lifterpad 5| until the termination of'the next' batchof covers. This completes 'the lcycleV of. operation'y of the. machine for' the; stacking-of one vbatfshfof covers.

Inpractice the machine operates continuously and builds 4up Va .stack of covers containingy e. plurality of batches separated only by the markers-or separators C. `As required, the .individual batches of covers are removed manually from the top of the stack for use or storage, the markers: C plainly indicating where one batchy begins and the next batch ends, with. the. assurance'that each batch contains an accurately countedpredetermined number of covers.

It is thought that the invention andmany.L of its attendantadvantages willbe understood from the' foregoing descriptiomand it will fbe apparent that various changes may be made in the'form, construction and arrangementof the partswithout departing from the spirit and scope of-fthe invention or sacrificing all. of its material 'advantages, Athe' form hereinbefore describedv being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

l. Ina .counting and stacking machine, 'the combination of means for: feeding. articles' tova stacksof such articles, a counter arranged to count a. predetermined number of larticles as they are added to the stack Ato form: a batch, counter actuating. means operable adjacent said counter in time'with said feedingv means', de*- tector means located in the path of articles entering the stack and engageable by each article as itis added to :said stack forrconnecting said counter actuating meanswith said'counter to actuate the counter, a pair of rollersvv disposedY inspaced relation on opposite sides of a normally stationary strip ofV marker material, meansconnected with said articlefeeding means `forrotatingv one of said rollers in time with. said 'feeding means, means controlled by saidY counter for movingone of said -rollers towardxthe. other when v aV batch of articles has been counted for engaging the strip of marker materialbetween said rollers and for* feeding it into4 the stack between the last article inthe batch and the -next following. article added to the stack, and cut off means disposed between the stack and said rollers and operable in ltime-withsald feeding means for' severing the inserted Aportion of the strip to rforma projecting marker tov visibly, indicatev the termination? of the counted batch of articles.

2. Ina counting .and stacking machine, the combination vof a reciprocable stroke bar. for feeding articles to a stack of: such articlesqa counter Iarranged to count azpredeterminednumber. of articles as itheyare; added Ytothe stackito forma Vbatch;counter actuating; `means operable adjacent said. counter in. time with said' feeding means. detector means .located in -the1 .patn.v. of

iaei'aose 'articles and engageable by each article las it' is added to said stack for connecting said counter actuating means with said counter to actuate the counter, a feed roller having rotatable connection -with said stroke bar and disposed adjacent a normally stationary strip of marker material, means operable by said counter for pressing said strip against said feed roller when a batch of articles has been counted for feeding said strip into the stack between the lastarticle in the batch and the next following article added tothe stack, and cut oif means disposed between said stack and said feed roller and operable in time with said stroke bar for severing the inserted portion of the strip to form a projectingmarker to visibly indicate the termination of the counted batch of articles.

3. In a counting and stacking machine,` the combination of means for feeding articles to a stack of such articles, a counter arranged to count a predetermined number of articles as they are added to the stack to form a batch, said counter including a rotatable counting wheel having a predetermined number of ratchet teeth on its periphery corresponding to the number of articles in a batch and a count divider wheel rotated by said counting wheel and having a notch in its periphery for each batch of articles, a pawl movable adjacent said counting wheel in time with said feeding means, detector means engageable by each article as it is added to said stack for moving said pawl into engagement with said counting wheel for operating said counter, a feed roller operable in time with said feeding means and disposed adjacent a normally stationary strip of marker material, lever means operable against the periphery of said count divider wheel and carrying a pressure roller engageable with said strip and pressing said strip against said feed roller when said lever means engages with a said notch in said count divider wheel for feeding said strip into the stack between the last article in a batch and the next following article added to the stack, and cut oif means disposed between said stack and said feed roller and operable in time with said feeding means for severing the inserted portion of the strip tc form a projecting marker to visibly indicate the termination of the counted batch of articles.

4. In a counting and stacking machine having provision for indicating predetermined batches of articles in a stack, the combination of a magazine for holding a stack of articles, a stroke bar movable toward and away from said magazine for feeding articles into said magazine, support means in said magazine for supporting an article introduced therein, means driven by a driving shaft for reciprocating said stroke bar, a lifter device vertically movable in said magazine and disposed below the feed line of said articles for lifting articles received in said magazine to a position above said feed line for building up a stack of articles in said magazine, support fingers yieldably mounted in said magazine for supporting the stack of articles as it builds up, means operable by said driving shaft for actuating said lifter device in time with said stroke bar, a counter arranged to count a predetermined number of articles as they are added to the stack to form a batch, counter actuating means connecting with and operable by said lifter device, detector means engageable by each article as it is added to said stack and effective on said counter actuating means when operated by an article for rendering said actuating means operative against said counter,k means operable by said counter-when ja batch of articles has 'been counted for inserting 4a strip of marker material in the stack vbetween v the last article in the batch and the next following article addedv to the stack, and cut olf means including a stationary blade disposed transversely of said strip on one side thereof and. a, movable cooperating blade on the opposite side thereof and actuated by and in time with saidlifterffdevice foi` severing the inserted portion of the strip to form a projecting marker to visibly indicate the termination of the countedbatch of articles.

"5. In a counting and stacking machine,"the combination of a reciprocating stroke bar for feeding articles to a stack, a counter disposed adjacent said stack for counting the articles as'they are added to the stack to form a batch containing a predetermined number, detector'means connected with saidcounter and operated by each article as it is` added to said stack, a feed roller located adjacent a normally stationary strip'of marker material, a gear and rack device connected between said stroke bar and said feed roller for rotating said roller in synchronism with said stroke bar, a pressure roller located on the side of said marker material opposite said feed roller, and means connected with said counter and operable when a batch number of articles has been counted for moving said pressure roller into engagement with said strip and said strip against said rotating feed roller to feed the strip into the stack and to insert it between the last article in the batch and the next following article to be fed into said stack.

6. In a counting and stacking machine, the combination of a magazine for holding a stack of articles, feeding means for advancing articles into a position directly beneath said magazine, a counting nger located beneath said magazine in the path of an article entering the magazine, said finger being engaged and moved by each article as the article is reaching its position beneath said magazine under its advancement by said feeding means, lifter means operable in time with said feeding means and engageable with each article as received for lifting the article into said magazine to build up the stack of articles therein, yieldable means in said magazine engageable by and snapping past each lifted article for supporting said stack as it builds up, a counter located at one side of said magazine for counting articles as they are added to the stack to form a batch of predetermined number, each movement of said finger advancing the count of articles by said counter, a` normally ineffective feed roller llocated adjacent a 'normally stationary strip oi' marker material, and means connected with said counter and operable when said batch count has been completed to make said feed roller effective f to feed said marker strip into the stack beneath the last article in the batch and above the next following article added to the stack to visibly indicate the termination of the counted batch of articles.

7. In a counting and stacking machine, the combination of means for feeding articles in a predetermined path to a stack of such articles, a counter rotatably mounted on a counter shaft for counting the articles as they are added to the stack by said feeding means, said counter including a counting wheel having ratchet teeth corresponding in number to the number Aof varticles in a batch and a control wheel rotatable together with saidcounting wheel and having a notch adjacent one of said ratchet teeth, a pawl located 

